LOS ANGELES – Etihad Aviation Group (EAG) and its equity partner airlines will support 108,000 jobs across the USA in 2016 and make a US$10.7 billion contribution to the national economy this year, demonstrating a significant impact in one of the world’s largest economies, according to a leading global consultancy.

The diversified
and commercially driven Abu Dhabi-based global aviation and travel group has key
interests in the United States operating to six gateway cities across the
country. Its economic contribution includes capital spending with US-based
suppliers that supports tens of thousands of domestic jobs.

In 2016 EAG’s
core economic contribution to the US economy will be US$3.8 billion in Gross Domestic
Product (GDP), supporting 30,300 jobs. This consists of the US impact from
EAG’s global operations and its capital spending with US-based suppliers, largely
due to Etihad Airways’ capital investment in new aircraft, cabin interiors and
IT infrastructure. This employment translates to domestic spending, delivering
US$2.9 billion to the country’s GDP.

In addition, spending
by the 280,000 international visitors carried into the US on Etihad Airways’
flights during 2016 will also leave a considerable economic footprint. This is
estimated to contribute US$1.9 billion in GDP, supporting around 22,400 American
jobs.

The US
economy is further boosted by the impact of the operations and services of
EAG’s equity partner airlines. Together, they will deliver US$1.6 billion to
the GDP, with a further US$3.4 billion tourism contribution. In turn, they will
support 13,700 jobs through their core operation, with a further 41,100 jobs
supported through the tourism industry.

The economic
impact of EAG and its equity partner airlines goes far beyond core and tourism
contributions. By connecting people and businesses across the world, Etihad
Airways and its partners facilitate a wide range of economic activity in both
the US and global economy. This 'knock-on' catalytic effect will boost US
productivity by US$1.1 billion in 2016 by enabling business interaction, facilitating
foreign investment, and encouraging tourism and trade.

EAG’s
services play a key role in connecting the US to important emerging economies
in the Middle East, South Asia and East Asia via Etihad Airways’ hub in Abu
Dhabi. In 2016, Etihad Airways will operate over 4,700 flights to and from the
United States and carry around 1.2 million passengers.

Over the next
few years, the figures are set to rise sharply as Etihad Airways and its
partner airlines expand capacity worldwide. According to Oxford Economics, the
UK-based research organisation which conducted the research and produced the
report, EAG and its partners’ core and tourism economic contribution to the US will
reach US$18.2 billion by 2024 and support 171,400 jobs in the economy.

James Hogan,
Etihad Aviation Group President and Chief Executive Officer, said: “The US is one of the world’s leading
economies and Etihad Airways, together with its partners within EAG have made
great strides to stimulate air travel to and from the United States, have created
vital air corridors connecting global markets, and have become a key
contributor to the US economy.

“Many jobs across the supply chain in hotels, ground transport
companies, freight forwarders, catering, manufacturing, and throughout the
tourism industry, all benefit from the presence of Etihad Aviation Group, with
suppliers in these sectors creating tremendous employment opportunities for
Americans.”

Mr Hogan added: “As Etihad Airways expands its US operations, and
the importance of Abu Dhabi as a global hub grows, so will our impact on the US
economy, in particular the employment landscape with the huge number of jobs
supported across the country, both directly and indirectly. The figures from
the report clearly show the catalytic incremental effect that the Etihad
Aviation Group will have in the job market and on the US economy in the years
to come.”

Since opening
its first US route 10 years ago with services to New York, Etihad Airways’ has
expanded its US operations from Abu Dhabi to a further five gateways. Its
network includes twice-daily flights to New York (JFK); daily to Chicago
O’Hare, Washington Dulles, Los Angeles and San Francisco; and thrice-weekly to
Dallas Fort-Worth.